Just 1 hour and 15 minutes north of Brisbane and just west of the Bruce Highway the Blackall Range beckons. Montville, Maleny and the other villages that perch on or behind the escarpment have restaurants, wineries, alternative-style eateries and produce stores, art galleries, boutiques and curiosity shops catering for tastes refined or earthy. Places like Buderim, Yandina and Eumundi – and, in the Noosa hinterland, Cooroy, Pomona and Kin Kin – have made the most of their natural assets, adding markets, coffee shops, craft galleries and other drawcards to their traditional attractions.
Further west, taste hand-crafted cheeses at Kenilworth before taking a leisurely trip along the Kenilworth Forest Drive or trekking into the rugged Conondales. Follow the Mary River north from its headwaters towards Gympie and you’ll find a series of magnificent state forests and townships of nostalgic rural charm. An old railway links them, and if you’re tempted by a sentimental journey you can board the Mary Valley Rattler steam train, which puffs its way from Gympie to Imbil every Wednesday, and Sunday with a half day trip on the Saturday. Turn into Gympie town centre, and you’re in the narrow, twisting streets of an old goldfield. Impressive public buildings testify to its wealthy past, and on the fringe of the town new mine shafts probe for a mother lode far below.
Taking the trip north from Brisbane in a more exploratory mood, you can follow the Wine Trail to discover the area’s viticultural secrets, or the Gallery Trail to appreciate the inspiration that artists have found here. For those wanting to take home a new skill, why not take part in a cooking class using local produce
